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4th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 9 of 20

Paragraph Power

Topic sentences and transitions

What your child practices

Choosing topic and concluding sentences, finding the sentence that doesn't belong, using transition words, identifying cause and effect, and putting sentences in order.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 4W2 · topic sentences, details and transitions

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The topic sentence tells what the whole paragraph is about.
  2. Every detail should fit the topic. Take out a sentence that doesn’t belong.
  3. Transitions link ideas: for example (adds one), however (shows a change), as a result (shows an effect).

Example: Maya studied every night, so she did well on the test. What is the effect? The cause is why it happened: she studied. The effect is what happened because of it. Answer: Maya did well on the test.

Paragraph Power in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 9 of 20 in 4th grade English Language Arts, after Sound-Alikes and before Grammar Gears.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Put the sentences in order to make a paragraph.

    • Then, water it and set it in a sunny spot.
    • Next, push a bean seed into the soil.
    • Finally, watch for a green sprout to appear.
    • Growing a bean plant takes just a few steps.
    • First, fill a cup with soil.

  2. Question 2

    Which is the best concluding sentence for this paragraph?

    Bats are amazing animals.

    Many bats eat huge numbers of insects each night.

    Some bats help spread seeds and pollinate flowers.

    • Clearly, bats are important to the world around us.
    • First, bats eat insects.
    • Owls also fly at night.
    • Bats sleep hanging upside down.

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph?

    Our community garden is a busy place in summer. Neighbors grow tomatoes, beans and squash. Winter is my favorite season because I love to skate. Children help water the plants each morning.

    • Neighbors grow tomatoes, beans and squash.
    • Winter is my favorite season because I love to skate.
    • Children help water the plants each morning.
    • Our community garden is a busy place in summer.

  4. Question 4

    Ravi left the gate open. What is a likely EFFECT?

    • The dog could get out of the yard.
    • The grass would grow faster.
    • Ravi's shoes would come untied.
    • It would start to rain.

  5. Question 5

    Which is the best topic sentence for these details?

    Some people like adventure stories full of exciting action.

    Others enjoy funny books that make them laugh out loud.

    Many readers love mysteries that keep them guessing until the end.

    • Mysteries keep readers guessing.
    • Readers enjoy many different kinds of books.
    • The library opens at nine o'clock.
    • Books are made of paper.

  6. Question 6

    Which transition word best fills the blank?

    Jay practiced his song every day.

    ___, he still felt nervous before the concert.

    • As a result
    • However
    • For example
    • Next

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